Interlocking BIPV roof tile with backer
AssigneeTesla, Inc.
InventorsMartin Seery, Charles Bernardo Almy, Kathryn Austin Pesce
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems provide for solar panel arrays that can be aesthetically pleasing to an observer. BIPV systems can be incorporated as part of roof surfaces as built into the structure of the roof, particularly as photovoltaic modules having the appearance of a plurality of roofing tiles that each have photovoltaic cells. Each photovoltaic module may include a metal backer, photovoltaic cells, and light transmissive top sheets adhered to both the metal backer and the photovoltaic cells. BIPV systems can also include non-photovoltaic modules that appear similar to photovoltaic modules, but do not collect solar energy.
Claims18
A photovoltaic module, comprising:
- a plurality of solar cells;
- a notched up-roof edge comprising a plurality of tabs;
- a standoff comprising a plurality of peaks and valleys and having a first side fastened to a roof-facing side of the plurality of tabs of the notched up-roof edge and a second side, opposite the first side, configured to contact an underlying roof structure to position the notched up-roof edge a fixed distance above the underlying roof structure;
- an attachment member secured to a roof-facing surface of the photovoltaic module proximate a down-roof edge of the photovoltaic module and configured to attach the photovoltaic module to a down-roof standoff of another photovoltaic module down-roof from the photovoltaic module.
A building integrated photovoltaic system, comprising:
- an underlying roof structure;
- a first photovoltaic module comprising a first corrugated standoff;
- and
- a second photovoltaic module positioned atop the underlying roof structure and up-roof from the first photovoltaic module, the second photovoltaic module comprising:
- a plurality of solar cells;
- an up-roof side;
- a down-roof side;
- a second corrugated standoff comprising:
- a first plurality of flat portions fastened to a roof-facing surface of the up-roof side and
- a second plurality of flat portions vertically offset from the first plurality of flat portions and configured to contact an underlying roof structure to position the up-roof side a fixed distance above the underlying roof structure;
- an attachment member secured to a roof-facing surface of the down-roof side that protrudes beneath a flat portion of the first corrugated standoff.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.